Registered Nurse ACT

JOB SUMMARY:

The Registered Nurse ACT Team is a member of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) multidisciplinary team responsible for conducting psychiatric assessments; assessing physical needs; making appropriate referrals to community physicians; providing management and administration of medication in conjunction with the psychiatrist, providing a range of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services; and sharing shift-management responsibility with other staff. Essential functions are under the direction of psychiatric care providers and in collaboration with other Registered Nurses ACT Team. Number of direct care community visits will be determined by ACT Team Leader, dependent upon number of assigned in-office duties, as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform shift management in coordination with other ACT shift managers according to established policies and procedures.
• Document individual progress to maintain a permanent record of individual activity according to established methods and procedures.
• Participate in daily staff organizational meetings; treatment plan review meetings; and regularly scheduled nurse meetings in order to develop consistency across teams and to ensure that all policies/procedures are being followed, as assigned.
• Manage the medication system; manage pharmaceuticals and medical supplies; administer, and document medication treatment. These tasks could include development, revision, maintenance, and supervision of team psychopharmacologic and medical treatment; medication policies and procedures; evaluation and charting of medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects; and arrangement of required lab work according to protocol.
• Organize and manage the system of tracking medication delivery to individuals and integrate medication administration into individual service plans.
• Screen and monitor individuals for medical problems and side effects to include direct service care and education of other ACT team members in order to help with overall monitoring of symptoms and side effects.
• Communicate and coordinate services with the other medical providers.
• Engage in health promotion, prevention, and education activities to include assessing for high risk behaviors. Help individuals strategize ways to maximize taking medications as prescribed and reach optimal health.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong clinical skills.
• Clear understanding of the characteristics and problems of adults with severe and persistent mental illness and substance use addictions.
• Knowledge of the ACT model.
• Respect for individual preferences.

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION REQUIRED:

Master’s of Nursing (preferred) or Bachelor of Science Nursing (preferred).

Current state licensure (or covered compact licensure) as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Graduate in nursing from an accredited college/university with successful completion of licensure with the Board of Nursing within 90 days of graduation.

One (1) year of professional experience practicing as a Registered Nurse (RN) is preferred. Recent Behavioral Health experience is preferred.